The Arabian Nights eBook

“Yes, my noble friends,” he continued,
addressing the company, “I assure you that my
adventures have been strange enough to deter even
the most avaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing
the seas. Since you have, perhaps, heard but
confused accounts of my seven voyages, and the dangers
and wonders that I have met with by sea and land,
I will now give you a full and true account of them,
which I think you will be well pleased to hear.”

As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on
account of the porter, he ordered, before beginning
his tale, that the burden which had been left in the
street should be carried by some of his own servants
to the place for which Hindbad had set out at first,
while he remained to listen to the story.

First Voyage

I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents,
and being young and foolish I at first squandered
it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure, but presently,
finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings
if managed as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering
also that to be old and poor is misery indeed, I began
to bethink me of how I could make the best of what
still remained to me. I sold all my household
goods by public auction, and joined a company of merchants
who traded by sea, embarking with them at Balsora
in a ship which we had fitted out between us.

We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies
by the Persian Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon
our left hand and upon our right the shores of Arabia
Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy
motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health,
and since that hour have been no more plagued by sea-sickness.

From time to time we landed at various islands, where
we sold or exchanged our merchandise, and one day,
when the wind dropped suddenly, we found ourselves
becalmed close to a small island like a green meadow,
which only rose slightly above the surface of the water.
Our sails were furled, and the captain gave permission
to all who wished to land for a while and amuse themselves.
I was among the number, but when after strolling
about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down
to enjoy the repast which we had brought with us,
we were startled by a sudden and violent trembling
of the island, while at the same moment those left
upon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come on
board for our lives, since what we had taken for an
island was nothing but the back of a sleeping whale.
Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves
into it, others sprang into the sea, but before I
could save myself the whale plunged suddenly into
the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to a
piece of the wood which we had brought to make our
fire. Meanwhile a breeze had sprung up, and in
the confusion that ensued on board our vessel in hoisting
the sails and taking up those who were in the boat
and clinging to its sides, no one missed me and I was
left at the mercy of the waves. All that day
I floated up and down, now beaten this way, now that,
and when night fell I despaired for my life; but,
weary and spent as I was, I clung to my frail support,
and great was my joy when the morning light showed
me that I had drifted against an island.